Perfect Crime Read Online Free PDF Page B

harder with every step closer to Gino's. Somehow, the four-block walk seemed like a long mile.
    Scott walked beside her. Only then did Tessa suspect that his earlier compassion might have had an ulterior motive. "Inviting yourself along?"
    "Yes."
    "No." Tessa stopped, digging her heels into the sidewalk even as the unyielding surface refused to budge.
    The other reporter walked on. He was nearly to the corner before he turned to see what had become of his companion. "Look," he said, retracing his steps so that he didn't have to shout, "Maria asked me to look into things. I don't want her to think I stirred something up."
    "Did you?"
    He blinked, "Did I what?"
    "Stir something up?"
    "I've barely had time to sit, let alone stir."
    A ghost of a smile appeared on her face at his turn of phrase. She started walking again. It didn't mean that she accepted his presence, or even trusted him, it just meant that she wanted to continue.
    Another block passed. "Why are you being so friendly?" she asked.
    "I'm being friendly?" he said, the usual smirk on his face causing the words to emerge with a bit of a New York twang.
    "Yes, strangely so."
    "Well, I'll try not to be so strange in the future. I'm not that bad a person… if you get to know me," he added, in his own defense.
    She half suspected that was true. A sense of self-preservation kept her tone cool as she pressed, "You didn't answer my question."
    Evasion was futile. "Today is the 19th."
    The connection between the dates, the three women, and a few other events, had already occurred to her. It may have accounted for why she felt more anxious and suspicious; but whatever she was considering, she kept to herself. "What are you saying, Crawford?"
    Scott shrugged. "I don't know, I'm still trying to connect the dots. Any chance the kidnappers let the body be found today and won't..."
    "Take someone else?" Tessa finished the sentence.
    "Maybe the Perellis can give us another lead - tell us if the kidnappers ever tried again at making contact."
    "Like a note or something?"
    The blond man turned to look at her for a moment. He seemed about to ask another question, but instead he confirmed, "Or something."
    "They're good people," Tessa said, her voice low, "This isn't right…"
    Scott nodded." No one deserves to get news like this."
    The restaurant came into view. A closed sign now hung in the front door. Being that it was dinnertime, and Gino's never closed before 2 a.m., it was obvious the news had been delivered.
    She walked up to the window, half hoping that someone would still be inside; and yet, suddenly reluctant to intrude. The option of backing away was taken from her as the door opened. The crack widened, and G.J. stood in the opening, his dark eyes looking at Tessa and her companion.
    "Who's this guy?" he said without preamble. The jerk of his thumb indicated Scott, and was hardly welcoming.
    Unintimidated by the muscle-bound Italian man's greeting, Scott extended a hand with an introduction, "Scott."
    "We work together," Tessa said. "Can we come in?"
    G.J. stepped back, letting the two enter, and closed the glass door behind them. Without warning, he blurted, "Two detectives came, and took Mom and Dad down to the station. They found Darla—" his sister's name caught in his throat.
    "I know, that's why I'm here." Tessa murmured. "It's already on the wire." That wasn't completely true, but a lengthy explanation wasn't needed.
    The strength of emotion from G.J. was almost too much. Tessa immediately stepped into his arms and accepted the hug. The embrace was tighter than she would have preferred, but she didn't resist.
    "You would understand," he whispered into her hair.
    No words of comfort exist for a time like this, so Tessa offered none. Clearing her throat in an effort to hold back tears, she pushed free and glanced at Scott. "Do you have any brothers or sisters?" she asked.
    "Three sisters; all older than I." There was a small pause. "All living."
    Tessa was surprised at